The Courtyard / Residence Inn Jekyll Island is set to open summer 2021! Check out an update below.
LNW Hospitality
You've Been Ghosted /
by Elska Vuong
Perhaps no industry was more aware of 2020’s buzzword ‘pivoting’ than hotels, which have become adept at repurposing their spaces throughout the pandemic. They offered their empty rooms as housing for the homeless and temporary offices for executives and remote workers; they’ve even turned their conference rooms into classrooms for children learning remotely. But while most of those concepts will likely go to the wayside as hotel occupancy rates rebound, one concept that may stick around has to do with how hotels utilize their kitchen space.
Before the pandemic, food and beverage programs at full-service hotels were known to rarely be revenue generators. Required to have an on-property restaurant to meet brand standards, full-service hotels needed to keep a full kitchen and wait staff on standby all hours of the day and night to offer room service for an uncertain demand, a costly endeavor.
Enter the ghost kitchen. Also called “digital kitchens,” ghost kitchens are cooking facilities that produce food for delivery or takeout only. As the lodging industry saw decreases in room revenue at the height of the pandemic, some entrepreneurial hotel managers were able to create new revenue streams in their underutilized restaurant and catering kitchens by turning them into ghost kitchens. Demand for takeout and delivery was skyrocketing, and there were food businesses looking to rent commercial kitchen space and had no need - or desire - to invest the large sums typically required to open a restaurant staffed and designed to serve in-person diners. Thus, the makings of a mutually beneficial partnership.
Analysts estimate that fewer than 5% of hotels in the United States are operating ghost kitchens from within their properties, but that number is expected to grow, and already includes properties from major brands like Marriott, Accor, and Hilton. In fact, there are now a number of companies that are focused exclusively on supporting the burgeoning ghost kitchen industry.
One, C3 (for Creating Culinary Communities), operates multiple food brands for delivery from a single ghost kitchen, and sees hotels as a key part of expanding their business. The kitchen operates as both the in-house dining for the hotel as well as a hub of operations for food delivery to the surrounding neighborhood. Particularly at hotels in prime locations whose on-property food offerings have not typically been popular with locals, attaching a name brand to the property could bring new cache and customers. Companies such as Butler Hospitality will take over a hotel kitchen and manage it as a central hub for room service to both the property it operates within as well as to surrounding hotels via delivery. Or there’s UseKitch, which connects food businesses with individual chefs with available commercial kitchen spaces.
But what does this mean for hotels as occupancy rises and they start to need their kitchen facilities back? Whether it’s partnering with a company to operate their in-room and/or on-property dining, or repurposing their catering kitchens permanently to support ghost kitchen operations for the long term to supplement their in-person dining offerings, it’s hard to imagine that hotels would turn their back on a new revenue stream in a once unprofitable area of their business. Especially while demand continues to rise: The business of food delivery is expected to be a $75.9b industry by 2022, while Euromonitor, a market research firm in London, predicts ghost kitchens will be a $1 trillion industry in the next 10 years.
If anything, it’s more likely that we start to see newer trends in hotel development, with developers thinking through how to better facilitate delivery and takeout in the communities surrounding a hotel restaurant. The emergence of ghost kitchens may turn out to be one of those rare scenarios in which all parties walk away happy. “Everybody’s happy: Hotels are happy they can charge monthly fees on an unused kitchen,” said Richie Karaburun, a professor at New York University’s Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality. “Customers are happy they can get more choices. Entrepreneurs are happy they don’t have to invest so much money and time for a restaurant.” Making lemonade out of lemons, indeed.
Georgian Governor Tours the Courtyard / Residence Inn on Jekyll Island /
by JJ Singh & Rani Bernstein
On Friday, March 26th, 2021, the Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, along with several members of his administration, toured our very own Courtyard / Residence Inn on Jekyll Island.
The visit was part of a broader focus on tourism in Georgia and the Golden Isles. As reported by The Brunswick News, the Governor remarked, “’I’m incredibly optimistic about where we are headed as a state…What seemed like a constant stream of bad news a year ago has been replaced with hope and optimism for the first time in a very long time.’”
The Courtyard / Residence Inn hotel is nearly complete and slated to open in June of this year. See below for pictures!
2027: A Space Odyssey /
by Elska Vuong
Things here on Earth got you down? Looking to escape it all for a little bit - like really escape? You’re going to have to wait a couple years, but come 2027 you could stay in the world’s first ‘space hotel’, courtesy of construction company Orbital Assembly Corporation. The hotel, named Voyager Station, aims to be a cruise ship-style luxury hotel floating above the Earth’s atmosphere, with capacity to lodge up to 280 guests (and 112 crew members) at a time.
Voyager Station will look similar to a large wheel, with a large rotating ring, comprised of 24 pods that connect to the central hub via elevators. The physics behind the design is similar to a simple science experience--if you tie a rope to a bucket of water, and spin the bucket in a large circle a fast enough, the water will not leak out. The bucket can be completely upside down and the water will not fall out. Similarly, the rotating wheel of the space hotel would work to create a simulated gravity that decreases as guests move closer to the central hub--all, hopefully, without any dizziness!
With the simulated gravity, guest rooms will feature many of the same comforts as those found in hotels on Earth. Guests can sleep in their beds and shower normally, with the added benefit of views that are quite literally ‘out of this world’. Voyager Station will also have chic bars and restaurants serving traditional ‘space food’, and plan to offer recreational activities like basketball that highlight the unique setting; the weightlessness and reduced gravity will allow participants to live out some of their Space Jam fantasies.
In terms of getting to the hotel, John Blincow, the head of Orbital Assembly Corporation, also a former pilot, says he’s looking forward to partnering with the companies actively working to make commercial space travel a reality, such as Virgin Galactic and SpaceX.
Ready to make a reservation? Voyager Station is already taking bookings - all you need is a cool $5 million for a three-and-half-day stay (transportation not included, of course). Or just go ahead and purchase one of their ‘villas’ as a vacation home. Construction is slated to begin in 2026, so plenty of time to save up. And for the vast majority of us who can’t afford it, we can still ‘space out’ and day dream.
Bringing Hotels Home for the Holidays - Holiday Recipes You Must Try! /
by Rani Bernstein
As the holiday season approaches, many are reinventing their holiday plans. A time infamous for large family gatherings is being modified, with intimate gatherings taking the lead. Although families may not be traveling across the country to see each other, Forbes has introduced a way to bring the travel excitement home to you: enjoy Thanksgiving-inspired recipes from luxury hotels around the world! In the article, “ 29 Thanksgiving Recipes from Top Hotels Around the World,” Forbes lists exciting recipes that you can introduce to your Thanksgiving menu. Below I will outline three exciting dishes/drinks that you must try! Check out the Forbes article, linked above, for recipes.
**Photo Source: Forbes.com
Ashford Castle: Chocolate, Candied Pecan Nut & Cinnamon S’more Pot
Located in Ireland, Ashford Castle is a five-star castle hotel that was once owned and occupied by the Guinness Family. With 83 rooms, suites, and even a Hideaway Cottage, this hotel is complete with waterfront views and activities.
Executive Pastry Chef Paula Stakelum talks about being inspired by her first bite of marshmallow with sweet potato. The texture of marshmallows stuck with her as she created this decadent dessert.
**Photo Source: Forbes.com
Hyatt Regency Maui: Molokai Sweet Purple Potato & Haupia Pie.
Located in Maui, Hawaii, the Hyatt Regency Maui spans over 40 acres along the ocean. With 806 rooms that each have their own private lanai, they offer an all-inclusive rate, in addition to a regular room rate.
Developed by Chef David Flegel, this pie is an island-inspired version of a sweet potato pie. Haupia is a coconut milk-based dessert that’s often served at luaus and other gatherings, and it adds a sweet layer on the top of the pie. A slice of this will bring you right to a tropical paradise!
**Photo Source: Forbes.com
Hotel Hassler Roma: Count Your Blessings
Located in Rome’s City Center in Italy, this hotel has been recognized as one of Europe’s legendary independently-owned five star luxury hotels. With 66 rooms, 20 suites, and 1 penthouse suite, this hotel is located in a prime location.
While not an entrée, this cocktail is certainly one of a kind. Made with whiskey, cranberry sauce, maple syrup, and lemon juice, this cocktail holds the essence of Thanksgiving (and the booze doesn’t hurt!). To serve it as Head Barman, Stefano Santucci intends, serve it with a side of boiled chestnuts infused with blueberry juice and red vermouth!
These recipes will bring some much-needed excitement home to us this holiday season. Enjoy!
Courtyard/Residence Inn Debuts Model Rooms /
by Rani Bernstein
LNW Hospitality recently celebrated the “topping out” of the Courtyard/Residence Inn Jekyll Island, and now are excited to share another milestone with you: debut of model rooms for each brand!
The purpose of model rooms is to make sure that all furniture is the correct size, everything is placed correctly in the rooms, electrical engineering (outlets, light switches, etc.) are placed in good locations, etc. It gives us a chance to make sure that everything is perfect before continue to do the same in every room. (We wouldn’t want to order 200+ couches and realize they don’t fit in the rooms!).
Because this hotel consists of two different brands, and therefore two different room products, we put together one model room for each brand. Photos are below!
Courtyard by Marriott
With 1,200+ properties, Courtyard by Marriott is typically designed for the modern business traveler. Created over 30 years, this brand has continued to evolve in the upscale category. The brand lives by the motto, “Fueled by Passion,” with the goal being to create opportunities for guests to pursue personal and professional passions while traveling. Courtyards aim to provide modern and open lobby spaces to provide guest with the opportunity to work or relax, as well as fitness centers.
Guest Rooms Offer:
Wide, comfortable sleeper sofas
Hospitality cabinets
Optimally placed outlets
Television, in-room refrigerators
Residence Inn by Marriott
With 850+ properties, Residence Inn created and defined the extended stay hotel category. Designed for longer stays, this brand offers spacious suites with separate living, working, and sleeping zones. This brand offers complimentary breakfast, outdoor living spaces with fire pits and grills, as well as lobby space to relax. Additionally, there is on-site laundry.
Guest Rooms Offer:
Zones for working, relaxing, eating, and sleeping
Fully equipped kitchen with full-sized refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and coffeemaker
Signature desk, located by windows for natural light
Large bathrooms
Model room photo credits: Stephen Schindel, Development Associate
Featured
LNW Hospitality & New Castle Hotels Celebrate the Topping out of the New Courtyard / Residence Inn /
by JJ Singh
As seen in Hotel Online, LNW Hospitality and New Castle Hotels celebrated the topping out of the new dual-brand hotel on Jekyll Island. Full announcement below!
LNW Hospitality and New Castle Hotels, the developers of the new dual-branded Courtyard/Residence Inn coming to Jekyll Island, announced the formal topping out of the building. This important construction milestone, the completion of the support structure of the roof, was marked by a ceremony on site.
The 209-key property, scheduled to open in the spring of 2021, features 120 Courtyard by Marriott rooms and 89 Residence Inn by Marriott rooms. Sitting on 5.8 acres of oceanfront land, this hotel will provide an exceptional guest experience. Amenities include the largest pool on Jekyll Island, a large hot tub, a splash pad for children, fire pits, a Bistro restaurant, an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant, a fitness center, and 2,600 square feet of meeting space.
The hotel is being constructed by Kellogg & Kimsey, Inc. with construction management services performed by McKibbon Places. Chamberlain Architect Services serves as the architect.
“We’re excited about the progress of our new hotel,” said JJ Singh, Director of Hospitality for LNW Hospitality. “We’ve got a fantastic team that has been working so hard to keep us on track and we look forward to opening our doors next spring to welcome travelers from all over the world.”
"Starting my career with Marriott over 23 years ago, this project is of significant importance to me as we welcome the Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn brands to Jekyll Island, a community that has been my home for the past 10 years," said Trevor Stratton of New Castle Hotels, who is the incoming General Manager of the property.
"I am thrilled to see how far construction has come since the groundbreaking just last summer,” said Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority. “We look forward to welcoming new business travelers and families, while remaining committed to conservation and stewardship of the island's delicate balance.”
“In over 4 million square feet of hotel construction by Kellogg & Kimsey, with a significant portion being Marriott brands, this is one of our favorite projects,” said Charles Kimsey, Executive Vice-President of Kellogg & Kimsey, Inc. “From the unique building design to accommodate the two brands and the remarkable coastal location, to the elaborate guest amenities, to the high quality professionals involved in the project with LNW, New Castle, McKibbon, and Chamberlain, it is a pleasure for our experienced team to build.”
Courtyard / Residence Inn Construction Progress! /
Our Courtyard / Residence Inn on Jekyll Island is coming along! Check out our latest construction progress video. The hotel is opening in the spring of 2021!
Welcome Back to Jekyll Island! /
As we continue to rev up the economy safely, Jekyll Island has seen an uptick in visitors. To prepare for further visitors and groups, Jekyll Island has created a whole series of enhanced procedures at its Convention Center, while the hotels on the island have all adopted stringent health standards.
Check out the Welcome Back video put together by the Island’s governing authority, which shows all that’s being done!
Three Ways Hoteliers are Giving Back /
by: Aline Matias
Keeping six feet apart means we’re getting closer—to communities, that is. As people practice social distancing and healthy measures, hoteliers are finding innovative ways to take care of those in need as well as those in need of small, relaxing breaks. Because we all could do with a bit of good news, here are three ways the hospitality business is giving back:
Giving back relief: Events D.C.—a convention and sports authority—announced a relief package worth $18 million to assist hotels, restaurants and hospitality employees impacted by COVID-19 in Washington, DC. Programs in the funding package will help recovery efforts in the business and provide assistance to workers in the industry.
Giving back hope: They respond to our health needs, now hoteliers respond to their accommodation needs. Hotel chains and independent properties offered 3.4 million hotel rooms as temporary housing to first responders. The initiative, Hospitality for Hope, garnered the support of more than 15,000 hotels opening their doors to the health community. Health care workers, looking to rest while maintaining a close distance to work, were able to do so in the comfort of a hotel. In fact, LNW Hospitality has partnered with first responders at its properties, providing refuge to those who keep us safe.
Giving back joy: So you’ve traded in your suitcase for the baking pans? Great; you can still bake your luscious loaves of bread at home—alongside Italian, luxury hotel chefs! As travelers buckle down home, luxury hotels are providing online lessons to make your couch life worthy of a five-star experience. Watch The Artesian at The Langham London’s demos to perfect your craft cocktails; finally make your parents proud and learn how to clean your room in a way only The Four Seasons can; and for those with little travelers at home, make Lucky Charms cereal bars alongside The Langham Chicago’s very own pastry chef. All these lessons--from hotel family yoga lessons and more--right in the comfort of your own space. The only caveat? You can’t take the mini toiletries home.
Travel and hotel visits might be a bit slow at the moment, but for now—and in the future—we continue doing what we do best for all: Giving.
Homes at the Moorings at Jekyll Harbor Now Available! /
by: JJ Singh
Carolina Holdings Group and LNW Hospitality announced the sale of new condominiums and duplex homes at the Moorings at Jekyll Harbor, on Jekyll Island, GA. Brought to you by the same group that created the successful Ocean Oaks at Jekyll Island and Cottages at Jekyll Island, the Moorings will have 39 three-bedroom residences and nine raised townhomes ranging from 1,726 to 1,946 heated square feet available for purchase.
Located on the coast of Georgia, Jekyll Island is a barrier island steeped in history. In the late 1800s, the island became a tourist destination when it was purchased by the Jekyll Island Club, which constructed a vacation resort for the nation’s leading families. In 1947, the state of Georgia purchased this once-private paradise and has worked tirelessly, ever since, to preserve the island's pristine natural beauty, only allowing 35 percent of Jekyll Island to be developed.
Today, residents and visitors alike enjoy its meticulously maintained natural aesthetic, ecology, and history. The island boasts unspoiled beaches and other great amenities such as the Jekyll Island Landmark Historic District, biking trails, the Summer Waves Water Park, and the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. The beach and Beach Village are just a short bike ride away from The Moorings. Jekyll Island was ranked the #1 best place to go in 2019 by Money Magazine.
The Moorings site is home to the Jekyll Harbor Marina, a magical enclave on the banks of the Jekyll Sound, surrounded by majestic, moss-draped oaks. Jekyll Harbor is ideal for a day of fishing or exploring the many meandering rivers and creeks of the Golden Isles. The marina offers both wet storage and dry storage at reasonable rates.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to create a community that fits into what makes Jekyll Island great,” said Gary Wadsten, Managing Partner of the Carolina Holdings Group. “The homes fit seamlessly into the natural landscape, offering homeowners serenity and breathtaking views. We’ve collaborated with the Jekyll Island Authority throughout this process to ensure that this development befits the character and beauty of Jekyll Island. I’m thrilled to partner again with the JIA and our co-developer LNW Hospitality.”
“The Moorings at Jekyll Harbor is a special community,” said Dave Curtis, Co-Managing Partner of LNW Hospitality. “With refined finishes, picturesque views, and proximity to the marina, beaches, dining, golf, and biking, the Moorings at Jekyll Harbor offer an unbelievable home and getaway.”
“These homes are stunning,” said Daniel Hoover, lead sales agent for the Moorings. “Home buyers will really be able to take advantage of this ‘quiet side’ of Jekyll Island – where life moves slower, southern hospitality is even more gracious and glorious sunsets are commonplace. All starting in the $400s.”
Home prices start at less than $500,000, with construction by the Solid Rock Co. expected to begin in the spring of 2020. For further information: The Moorings at Jekyll Island or call 843-997-5540.
A Special MLK Day for LNW Hospitality /
by: Seth Collett
The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. But for a group of volunteers, this day, January 20, 2020, was not a day off, but rather a day on. Members of LNW Hospitality, LNWA, Arbor Management, and the Axia Hotel Group used the opportunity to serve others at the Middletown soup kitchen, Our Daily Bread.
“Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Formed in 2008, Our Daily Bread utilizes donations from businesses and religious organizations to cook and serve food to the less privileged residents of Middletown. The organization serves their guests, as they sit at tables, creating a warm and hospitable atmosphere. Whether they are homeless looking for a momentary escape from hardship, or single mothers and their children when it’s difficult to make ends meet, all are welcome at Our Daily Bread .
Fourteen employees of LNW Hospitality, LNWA, Arbor Management, and the Axia Hotel Group donned non-slip shoes and got to work chopping onions, greeting and serving guests, and washing dishes. Big smiles, lots of laughs, and the smell of good food filled the dining room as residents from all over Middletown trickled in. On the menu was homemade baked chicken Parmesan, spaghetti with marinara sauce, and Caesar salad.
All in all, twenty-five meals were served, in addition to the donation of unused food items. Many guests complemented the quality of service, and the Our Daily Bread Director, Betsy Cave, even said “This is one of the hardest working groups of volunteers we’ve ever had.”
All of the companies involved in this day have a long-standing tradition of community service, as well as a presence in Delaware. LNWA and Arbor Management have been in Middletown for more than 30 years, owning and managing two apartment complexes. Members of LNWA also created the Leon N. Weiner Education Foundation, which provides educational assistance to children and adults in families with low to moderate incomes to help them achieve their highest potential and become confident, accomplished, fulfilled individuals and productive members of society. The Axia Hotel Group has contributed to numerous important causes in Delaware and owns and operates the Hampton Inn & Suites in town. Axia and LNW Hospitality have teamed up to create the new Fairfield by Marriott in town.
Beyonce Was Wrong… Women Aren’t Just Running the World, They’re Travelling It /
by: Aline Matias
Hotel Zena, courtesy of Hotelguides
Beyoncé lied to us. Women aren’t just running the world — they’re traveling it, and hoteliers are taking note. With the upcoming opening of Hotel Zena in Washington, D.C. — one of the first hotels dedicated to celebrating female strength and accomplishments — the hospitality business is proving that this powerful demographic is worth the powerful investment.
Owned by Bethesda’s Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, Hotel Zena will become a part of the Viceroy Urban Retreats Portfolio, a series of boutique hotels managed and operated by Viceroy Hotels and Resorts. Opening in Spring of 2020, the hotel offers opportunities for guests to enjoy diverse experiences in D.C. from coordinated hotel monthly music sessions to eating at unique restaurants and bars from nearby 14th Street. But aside from boasting 191 rooms, a cocktail-themed lobby lounge, a 14th-floor rooftop pool, and let’s admit it, a name echoing that of the best warrior princess, Hotel Zena’s interior design reminds us that the future of travel is female.
Hotel Zena, courtesy of Bloomberg
Guests will be able to engage in thoughtful conversation in the cocktail lounge near the mural of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Or for an even more casual setting, drinks on the rooftop overlooking the skyline of the nation’s capitol is always an option. With art decorations inspired by feminine icons travelers are immersed in herstory, and men, don’t worry, you too can be a part of this experience as Hotel Zena is available for lodging to all travelers.
Hotel Zena is not the first to provide a holistic and targeted guest experience — hotels such as the Eaton provide artful amenities for its artist, activist, and entrepreneur guests — but it is the first to celebrate female accomplishments. And we’re not surprised. After all, as reported by the Travel Industry Association, approximately 32 million American women travel alone every year and 75% of women plan to travel on their own in the next couple of years.
As women seek wellness experiences internationally and domestically — from weaving tapestries to taking boxing classes with a world champion — travelers are relying on each other for guidance while creating an industry of women led travel businesses and experiences. Groups like Wild Women Expeditions, El Camino Travel, and Girls Love Travel provide platforms created by women for women to share travel advice, book potential tours and travel routes, or post photos of treks up pebbled Portuguese castles.
With such a large group of travelers, and one that is projected to keep growing, it’s no surprise that markets influenced for female travelers are abundant, reaffirming Beyonce… that girls truly do run this world.
Why Doesn't Front Desk Tell me my Room Number? All about Security at Hotels /
by: Marissa Consalo
Have you ever noticed that when you get your key at reception, they never tell you your room number—only the floor on which you’ll be staying? That’s for security reasons—they want to keep your room number private. Small measures like this are factored into the design, construction, and operations of a hotel; they are are meant to provide additional safety to guests, employees, and the property.
As we launch into the 2020s, hotels are taking further steps toward the integration of more modern technology within their security systems. With hotels increasingly moving away from all forms of paper, more is being done to combat cyber crime.
According to Top Hotel News, “To combat cybercrime, hotels are taking steps to incorporate more advanced firewalls, limiting who has access to data and securing mobile devices of employees.” Additionally, hotels have been installing virtual local area networks (“VLAN”), which provide enhanced connectivity, with an additional layer of protection.
Mobile Key App
When it comes to the physical safety of the guests, the mobile room key has added a new layer of security for travelers. With this new technology, the guest can only get in their room through the use of their mobile device, which greatly reduces the chance of a room key falling into the wrong hands. Some hotels even provide an alert system through the mobile key app, that will let guests know if their room has been entered without them physically being there.
The hospitality industry has also stepped up the security for not only their systems, and their guests, but also their employees. Last year, the American Hotel and Lodging Association (“AHLA”) launched their “5-star Promise” to prioritize the safety of employees more than ever before. In a video, the AHLA showcased a new device that allows room attendants to send a silent signal to the hotel’s security system along with the direct location of the employee who pressed it.
By 2020, the AHLA projects that over 20,000 properties will have devices of this nature for not only their housekeeping departments but all of their employees, and they are on track to becoming the standard across all brands.
While these technological advancements in security may come at a hefty cost for hotels, the safety and well being of the guests, employees, and the property are priceless, and for that reason, companies will continue to push towards building the most efficient systems possible for their properties.
LNW Hospitality and Axia bring a Fairfield to Middletown! /
by: JJ Singh
Fairfield by Marriott coming to Middletown, 2021
As reported by WDEL, LNW Hospitality and Axia Hotel Group announced a collaboration to bring the first Marriott hotel to Middletown, DE. The joint venture signed a franchise agreement with Marriott and is expected to break ground on a new Fairfield by Marriott in 2020, with an opening scheduled in 2021.
The development team has had a long-term presence in Delaware and in hospitality. LNW Hospitality develops, owns, and manages hotel assets on the east coast, with three Marriott brands in its portfolio. Its parent company, Leon N. Weiner & Associates, Inc. (LNWA), has been in Delaware for more than 70 years, with over 35 years in Middletown itself, through its ownership of Middletown Trace Apartments and Fairfield Commons Apartments. “We see tremendous opportunity in Middletown,” said Kevin Kelly, Chairman of LNWA. “The town is thriving, Fairfield by Marriott is a great brand, and our partner, Axia, has a strong track record in town as well.”
Axia Hotel Group has been in the hotel business in Delaware since the 1960s and has developed eight hotels in that time. In 2006, Axia brought the first branded hotel to Middletown, with the development of its Hampton Inn & Suites on Sandhill Drive, which was recently renovated. “Our Hampton has performed well, and we see an opportunity to grow our presence,” said Axia President Tom Kramedas. “We’ve got a great site, partner in LNW Hospitality, and brand in Fairfield by Marriott.”
Middletown, an historic town established in 1861, is a thriving community. In the last 20 years, the population has more than tripled, while multinational corporations have built large presences in town. The hotel site sits close to the entrance into Middletown from the newly constructed mainline U.S. Route 301, surrounded by numerous dining and entertainment amenities. At the intersection of Warwick Road and Merrimac Avenue, the hotel will be visible to all cars that pass through town. “Middletown has had a successful track record of attracting employers,” said Mayor Kenneth Branner, Jr. “I’m pleased that LNW Hospitality and Axia Hotel Group wish to bring a Marriott property to town. The two companies have been good corporate citizens and I look forward to our continued work together.”
Fairfield by Marriott is the second largest brand in Marriott’s portfolio, with over 1,000 properties and more than 400 more, worldwide, in its pipeline. Fairfield welcomes guests with its friendly service and comfortable spaces, offering flexibility to work, rest, and maintain balance on the road. Amenities include a complementary hot breakfast and coffee, as well as a fitness center and lobby market.
LNW Hospitality Breaks Ground on its New Courtyard / Residence Inn /
Dave Curtis, Managing Partner of LNW Hospitality; Julian Buffam, Principal of New Castle Hotels & Resorts; Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority
by: JJ Singh
Yesterday, LNW Hospitality and its partner, New Castle Hotels & Resorts, broke ground on a new Courtyard / Residence Inn Jekyll Island, slated to open by the summer of 2021. The hotel features 209 rooms, the largest pool in Jekyll island, a large hot tub, a splash pad for children, fire pits, a Bistro restaurant, an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant, a fitness center, and 2,600 square feet of meeting space.
“We’ve carefully designed the hotel to provide a seamless, unforgettable guest experience,” said Dave Curtis Managing Partner of LNW Hospitality. “LNW Hospitality has a 35-year track record of success on Jekyll Island, first in restoring the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, as well as developing the Hampton Inn, Westin, and Jekyll Ocean Club. We’re pleased to partner again with New Castle Hotels and Resorts, Marriott International, and the Jekyll Island Authority, to create this stunning new getaway.”
East Elevation, Courtyard / Residence Inn Jekyll Island
“A dual-brand gives guests more choice in accommodation but minimizes overhead through shared resources, which is especially advantageous in a seasonal resort,” noted Julian Buffam, principal, New Castle Hotels and Resorts, which will operate the hotel upon completion. “The rich amenity package offered by Residence Inn and Courtyard by Marriott make both brands particularly popular with leisure travelers and convention goers. These brands will be exactly the right addition to Jekyll’s family-friendly product mix.”
Construction Crew
A barrier island off the coast of Georgia, Jekyll Island became a tourist destination for the richest families in America in the late 1800s. Over the last 15 years, over $200 million in public and private investment has been made on the island. Today, Jekyll Island is home to eight hotels, a world-class convention center, and numerous amenities to support tourism on the island. Ranked as the number one place to go for a vacation by Money Magazine in 2019, Jekyll Island is a celebrated destination. Over the last five years, the number of visitors to the island has grown by six percent per year.
“Responsible development is always at the core of our decision making, to ensure we do not overdevelop for the sake of additional lodging,” said C. Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority. “It’s important to understand that even with these additional 209 rooms from the new Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott, we' will still be 100 rooms below historic ‘peak hotel room’ capacity numbers for the island, ensuring we continue to maintain the island’s natural character. This project embodies our goal of welcoming new and different kinds of visitors, including business travelers and families, while remaining committed to conservation and stewardship of the island’s delicate balance.”
Hygge - A New Hospitality Trend or a Cheer for Dear Old UVA? /
by: Elska Vuong
There’s a new word that capturing the attention of the hospitality industry. "Hygge” (pronounced HOO-guh) is not a new cheer for the ‘HOOS of the University of Virginia, the 2019 men’s basketball national champion. Rather, according to Country Living Magazine, “Hygge is a Danish concept which cannot be translated into a single word but encompasses a feeling of cozy contentment and well-being through enjoying the simple things in life.”
There has always been a market for hotel gyms and spas, offering guests a way to stay healthy on the road. However, with terms such as “hygge,” “mindfulness,” and “self-care” becoming buzzwords and movements of late, health and wellness seems to be having a moment.
The concept of health and wellness has evolved; it is no longer just about discrete wellness treatments or health-related activities and more about a holistic lifestyle focused on overall well-being. Guests are increasingly looking to maintain this lifestyle and/or find ways to incorporate “mindfulness opportunities” into their travel experiences, expecting more than just a hotel spa or gym with a treadmill and free weights.
Many properties and chains have taken notice, making concerted efforts to associate their brand or products with wellness. Starting in 2011, Marriott’s Westin Hotel and Resort brand began introducing amenities such as health-focused options on food and beverage menus, exercise clothing and shoe rentals, concierges to help with running routes, bike-share programs, saline swimming pools, and in-room high-tech Peloton fitness bikes in some cases. In 2017, Westin also launched its first global campaign in over five years – called “Let’s Rise” – with the aim of positioning itself as a leader in wellness tourism.
Other chains have also leaned in to the wellness wagon. Hilton launched its “Five Feet to Fitness” guestroom concept in 2017, installing more than 11 different fitness-focused items in hotel rooms. Priced at 20 percent above normal room rates, guests have the ability to access a range of fitness options and maintain their routines without leaving their rooms. Beyond high-end fitness equipment, the rooms also offer a meditation chair, blackout curtains, Biofreeze to ease muscle tension, and a range of protein and hydration drink options.
At its last global conference, Wyndham Hotel Group unveiled their new guestroom design looks, focused on color schemes and themes that focused on reducing guest stress level and inspiring guests to have “the feeling of being almost home.” In recent years, Wyndham has also launched a “Stay Well” guestroom program, using design features, amenities, and programming focused on keeping travelers healthy. Part of these features are circadian lighting technology to help reduce jetlag, wall-mounted air-purification filters to reduce allergens and microbes, and aromatherapy options.
Introducing new wellness offerings is not just a way for a hotel to differentiate itself. It’s also an opportunity to increase revenue and tap into the $639.4-billion wellness tourism industry. Health-conscious travelers reportedly spend as much as 130 percent more on hotel amenities than other guests. Within the coveted traveling millennial demographic, 60 percent of them say that health is the most important thing in their lives.
Today, health-conscious travelers are not just guests who are traveling specifically for a wellness experience, like a spa or yoga retreat. Rather, the majority are travelers who are looking to stay healthy or access health and/or wellness-focused amenities while on the road. As a result, there’s an incentive for hotels at every level and price point to find new ways provide their guests with health and wellness opportunities.
Au Revoir Marriott Rewards, Bienvenue Bonvoy /
by Elska Vuong
If you watched the Academy Awards last month, you might have noticed something… aside from Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, that is. Marriott has finally unified all of its rewards programs into a new loyalty program called Bonvoy. During the show, Marriott featured a splashy 60-second commercial directed by Oscar-nominated director Jean-Pierre Jeunet as a part of its effort to introduce Bonvoy. The campaign will include activities across 22 countries throughout the year and leverage major cultural events to further highlight the new travel program, according to Marriott.
The new program, which merges together Marriott Rewards, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest, comes after years of keeping the Marriott and Starwood loyalty programs separate, following Marriott’s acquisition of the smaller company in 2016. The acquisition made Marriott the largest hotel company in the world. Bonvoy has an estimated 120 million members, in turn making it the largest loyalty program for a single hotel company globally.
With the ad campaign and its associated tagline, “Rewards Reimagined,” Marriott hopes to raise Bonvoy’s brand recognition, along with the profile of its 30 hotel brands. “It’s about the emotional part of what good travel means,” said Karin Timpone, global marketing officer for Marriott International. “That’s what the campaign is all about — people experiencing the joy of good travel and they have one word to describe it, and that one word is ‘Bonvoy.’ The more people hear that, the more they connect that idea of good travel to our portfolio and that program.” The company reportedly spent extensive time researching, before deciding on Bonvoy, shorthand for ‘bon voyage,’ including investigating how the name would be pronounced by foreign language speakers.
Part of the new tagline also reflects a shift in focus from a loyalty program that is exclusively points and in-hotel-perks-driven. The new program and campaign emphasizes customized, special experiences you can have as a Marriott Bonvoy member, including musical performances, sporting events and culinary collaborations. “We think [Bonvoy is] good because it relates to travel, and relates to Marriott, and also points to something new — that the loyalty program is now the richest set of benefits, and much more than what it was in pieces,” said Timpone.
Home is Where Alexa is... /
by: Elska Vuong
“Alexa, turn off the lights.”
“Hey Google, what’s the weather?”
If those sentences trigger a sense of déjà vu, you’re likely one of the many people (approximately 43 million, if we’re counting) who own a smart speaker – an Amazon Echo or Google Home, for example.
While the use of smart speakers in homes is well known, the devices’ commercial applications are still being tapped. In particular, hotels and airlines are exploring how the devices can be adapted to enhance the guest experience.
“...guests can use the devices to change the temperature in the room, request fresh towels from housekeeping, or ask what time the hotel’s restaurant closes...”
This past year, Marriott International teamed up with Amazon to test out Echo devices with a new “Alexa for Hospitality” mode in select rooms. Tailored to each property, guests can use the devices to change the temperature in the room, request fresh towels from housekeeping, or ask what time the hotel’s restaurant closes, among other applications.
In the future, guests will also be able to link their own Amazon account to the in-room Echo during their stay so they can listen to their own music, much like how guests at some hotels can connect to Netflix or Hulu on a smart TV.
The hospitality mode also has specific security settings which delete interactions daily, recognizing the concerns that may arise regarding guest privacy.
Meanwhile, other hotels have begun testing out smart speakers beyond the guest room. Caesars Palace, for example, started using a newly-launched “interpreter mode” on Google Home as real-time translators at their check-in counters and concierge desks. When a person uses a trigger phrase like, “Hey Google, be my Slovak (or Mandarin or German) interpreter,” the Google Assistant begins to start translating the conversation. Other hotels and even retail outlets around the world could adopt similar approaches.
The big smart speaker players are also starting to incorporate features that enable these digital assistants to become digital travel agents. Amazon has teamed up with Expedia and Kayak so that customers can use Alexa to book hotels and rental cars. Google Assistant can not only book hotels and rental cars, but also track and book flights. And through a partnership with United Airlines, consumers will soon be able to ask Google Assistant to check into their flights and fetch their digital boarding pass.
Worldwide, smart speaker ownership is on track to reach 225 million units by 2020. As the technology continues to proliferate, it’s likely that we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface on all the possible uses of smart speakers across the travel and hospitality industry.
Triple-Headed Monster... Multi-Branded Properties Taking Over /
by: Stephen Schindel & Seth Collett
Did you hear that Hilton has opened its first TRI-branded hotel in Chicago? It has a Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, and Home2 Suites, all in the same property. Seems crazy—what’s next a six-story building with a different brand on each floor?
Multi-branded properties are becoming more common, but the question is why? It turns out that there are a lot of benefits for both the guest and the developer.
Guests
Multi-branded properties share facilities and amenities. When you stay on property, you might benefit from an offering provided by another brand. Take for example, our coming-soon Courtyard/Residence Inn on Jekyll Island. We’ve got two pools—a family pool and an adult lap pool—both of which are available to guests regardless of which flag they choose.
Additionally, when you’ve got a large group for a wedding or a convention, your party can choose whether they want one type of experience (suites, for example), versus another.
And while we don’t endorse this method, we haven’t tried it, and we don’t know if it works, we have heard of “hotel hopping” where a guest can spend one night in one brand and another night in the other brand, thus counting as two separate stays for status purposes.
Developers
Courtyard by Marriott / Residence Inn by Marriott, LA Live, Los Angeles, CA
From the perspective of a developer, the advantages are clear. First, you gain a wider audience for your property, by having flags that each bring in a different customer. Second, like in a merger of two companies, there are opportunities to streamline personnel (one general manager, for example). Finally, one building with two brands is generally more efficient to build than two separate buildings. You don’t need two lobbies, two porte cocheres, or two sets of offices for management.
Where do we go from here?
For developers, the key is to figure out how to retain some of the brand identity from each flag, while still retaining an integrated experience for the guest. For the guest, it’s all about optimizing experiences and having several options that cater to your needs. Needless to say, the days of the 800-key behemoth, single-branded hotel, are in the past… like a buffet, the future is chock full of options in a smaller space.